OGIO signs first sponsored PGA Tour player
By definition, authenticity cannot be manufactured; you are either born with it, or you're not. In action sports, authenticity is motocross superstar Travis Pastrana attempting, and miraculously landing, the world's first double backflip on a motorcycle - a feat that today would be likened to beating the THREE minute mile. It just isn't done. In golf, that same authenticity has a face: Frank Lickliter II. The Hummer-driving-bear-hunting-Q- School-dominating PGA Tour Player stays true to himself, to his sport, and to his country in a way that cannot be duplicated. Only celebrated. Today, Pastrana and Lickliter share something beyond their authenticity. They share OGIO. The company that has stayed true to its core - making the ultimate performance-driven golf and gear bags - today celebrates pro golfer and committed philanthropist Lickliter as its first sponsored PGA Tour player. "Frank, like so many of the athletes OGIO sponsors, lives his life out loud," says OGIO Global Director of Golf Tom Gocke. "His enthusiasm for his sport walks that fine line between passion and obsession. But he strikes a balance by throwing as much energy into his charitable work as he does into his work on the course. It is this kind of passion and authenticity that made him such an ideal match for OGIO." Under terms of the agreement, Lickliter will sport the OGIO logo on his custom-made OGIO tour bag, as well as on his cap. Additionally, he will carry OGIO's durable travel gear to all of his golf events worldwide in an official capacity, though he has been a long-time OGIO fan and customer, having used the company's luggage for many years. "I like everything about OGIO, but what I love are the people behind it and the thought that goes into every piece," Lickliter says. "I started noticing OGIO Bags where I practice: different, stylish, noticeable, compared to other golf bags over the last 25 years. With all of the freebie's we receive, I started seeing Tour players carrying OGIO gear that they paid for, which was a real testament to its quality." In 1996, Lickliter II qualified for the PGA Tour in its Q School, and has been a full member since. He has won two PGA Tour events including the 2001 Kemper Insurance Open and the 2003 Chrysler Classic of Tucson. In December 2005 at TPC Sawgrass, he set THE PLAYERS Stadium Course record with a 62, including the first double eagle on the par-5 11th hole. Lickliter II also holds 12 course records across the United States and currently ranks 70th on the PGA Tour All-Time Career Money List. Off course, Lickliter is deeply involved in charitable work, having helped raise more than $3M for military foundations. As the spokesperson for the Wounded Warrior Project, as well as the Naval Special Warfare Foundation and the Florida National Guard Foundation, he has traveled to Cuba, Korea, and Iraq to visit and play golf with troops at special golf clinics held in their honor. "It is a genuine honor to have someone of Frank's talent and deep convictions represent OGIO on the PGA Tour," says Tom Gocke, the company's global director of golf. "We look forward to supporting Frank both on and off course, as he reaches for professional goals - such as securing a spot on the Ryder Cup team - as well as personal goals to help support our troops." Labels: golf, travel. gear
Woods will again skip the Par 3 Tournament
Tiger Woods said Tuesday that he would, once again, skip the Par Three Tournament. In a press conference, Woods said the Wednesday event had "changed over the years," making it harder to prepare for the tournament and participate in the Par Three Tournament. Is that that right move for Woods.With Tiger chasing only himself and Jack Nicklaus' 18 majors, I would argue that Tiger's making the right call. If the course really is playing longer and slower than in years past, taking an extra day to practice and prepare is probably a good call.All that might change when Tiger's daughter is old enough to be out on the course with him during the Par Three Tournament. Until then, expect Woods to continue focusing on the four days that really count at Augusta.Labels: golf, the masters
Does Augusta's invite system need fixing?
Last week, Colin Montgomery criticized the invitation system used for The Masters. Needless to say, Monty didn't make the cut and was a little upset about it. Rightfully so?Montgomery said the tournament pandered to Asian players, with foreign invitations being extended to three players (one from Thailand, one from China and one from India) ranked below him in the World Rankings. The same thing happened in 2005, he said, because of television rights in Japan.From my point of view, it's all sour grapes from Monty. His world ranking of 75 isn't great and he's never performed well at Augusta. Since 1990, his best (and only top 10) finish was a tie for eighth in 1998. The last decade has been a series of cuts. Is this really in the best interest of the tournament.I don't think so.So Monty, buck up. Play a little better over the course of the next year and climb the rankings to exempt status and you won't have to worry about a snub again next year.Labels: golf, the masters, travel
It's here: Masters Week 2008
The first major of the year has arrived and NW Golf Adventures will keep you up-to-date all week long. Come back each day for the latest news and commentary from Augusta! Labels: golf, the masters, travel
Live from the Seattle Golf Show: Day 2
The best part of the Seattle Golf Show is that we get a chance to meet, face-to-face with all of the great courses and resorts in Seattle and Washington. That means we're getting better deals to pass on to all of our travel clients. Highlights from the Saturday show included a visit from the Hooters girls, a Seahawks autograph session with Bobby Engram and more, plus more great giveaways from just about every exhibitor. At the NW Golf Adventures booth, we've had plenty of people taking advantage of our great Bandon Dunes package. While they're there, folks are also enter our drawing for a great Bobby Jones Jesse Ortiz hybrid club. If you're in the Seattle area on Sunday, stop by anytime between 10am and 4pm at the Qwest Event Center and say hello! Labels: golf, golf show, seattle
Live from the Seattle Golf Show: Day 1
It's a busy day at the golf show. We've got every manufacturer on site, offering demos of their newest clubs. There are all the great golf courses on site, giving discounts and more to everyone visiting their booths. And, there are plenty of cool contests to enter and more. All in all, if you're in the Seattle area and have some time to kill, spend $10 to visit the Seattle Golf Show. Labels: golf, golf show, seattle
Ogio files patent lawsuit
In its ongoing effort to protect valuable intellectual property, OGIO has filed papers with the State of Utah's Federal District Court citing Callaway Golf Company for patent infringement. The papers were filed February 13, 2008.OGIO, the golf bag manufacturer renowned for innovative design, currently holds more than a dozen individual patents for acclaimed bag components. One such design - the OGIO Woode organizing top - was such a high-demand feature when it was first introduced in 2002 that Callaway Golf Company requested the design on its OGIO-engineered bags. OGIO provided original equipment manufacturing services for Callaway from 2000 through 2005. Despite the companies agreeing to part ways nearly three years ago, a patent-violating version of OGIO's organizing top continues to appear on Callaway- designed golf bags including its 2008 golf bag collection. "OGIO's reputation hinges on our innovation; buyers and customers alike seek out and expect OGIO's components to offer a technologically forward approach to solving problems," says the company's vp operations, Gary Bowen. "As such, we will protect our intellectual property while alerting our retail partners to avoid selling any gear that infringes on our patents." OGIO's Woode Club Management System was issued patent number 6,877,604 B2 on April 12, 2005. The Woode organizing top consists of a stadium-style profile for wood containment, and egg- crate-inspired cradles for irons, to facilitate easy access and protect gear in transit. OGIO's patented Putter Port - which elevates putters in plain sight amidst taller gear - is incorporated into the patented Woode top as well.The company took aim to protect this same patent in December 2005, with the issuance of multiple cease- and-desist orders warning retailers and manufacturers to discontinue the sale of bags incorporating OGIO's Woode top technology.Labels: golf, ogio
PGA does cut-line reversal
The PGA Tour amended its divisive cut policy, giving players on the cut line one more day of competition to separate themselves from the bottom of the pack. Starting this week at the Honda Classic, the tour will return to a traditional 36-hole cut for the top 70 and ties. If more than 78 players make the cut, there will be another cut to the top 70 and ties after the third round. "On the surface, that sounds like doing the same thing over again," commissioner Tim Finchem said Tuesday. "But it's really not, because the field spreads." The cut policy changed this year to avoid large fields on the weekend, which led to 5½-hour rounds and disrupted the television window. When the cut was more than 78 players, the nearest number to 70 advanced to the weekend, while the others received last-place money. Eighteen players at the Sony Open and 19 players at the Buick Invitational were kept from playing on the weekend under the previous policy. Anthony Kim was among them in San Diego, and it could have kept him from qualifying for a World Golf Championship. Others complained that they didn't have a chance to move up the leaderboard over the final two rounds, if not for a chance to win, then at least to get into the top 10 and earn valuable Ryder Cup or FedEx Cup points, not to mention money. "I just think we didn't think through the new rule," Finchem said. "It's hard to understand. People see players making the cut and not playing. Nobody's happy with that." Not much was said about the policy until early this season. Some players acknowledged they didn't actually know about it. The 16-man Players Advisory Council met last week at Riviera and made the recommendation, which the tour's policy board voted on Monday in Florida. The tour also will consider changing the so-called second cut to one with 65 and ties in the future. "It's kind of a compromise, kind of half a loaf," Finchem said. "But it's the best step for right now. ... It may be that we fall in love with this. It may be that we want to reevaluate Saturdays. But everybody seems to be pretty comfortable right now going in this direction." Labels: golf, PGA Tour
Couples, Norman new President's Cup captains
Fred Couples and Greg Norman are the new captains for the 2009 Presidents Cup in San Francisco. It's the first time both captains have previously competed in the matches.Golf World first reported the selection of Couples on Sunday.Couples has played on five Presidents Cup teams for the United States, and he hit the winning shot the first two years. Norman sat out the inaugural year in 1994 because of an illness, then played on the next three teams.Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player had been captains the last three matches.The Presidents Cup will be played in October 2009 at Harding Park in San Francisco. The United States has a 5-1-1 record, winning last year at Royal Montreal. The International team's only victory was in 1998 in Australia.Labels: golf, president's cup
NW courses contribute to Patriot Golf Day
Golfers who play any Golf Lane County member course* on Sept. 1 have an opportunity to contribute hundreds of dollars on the first annual Patriot Golf Day. Some courses will match contributions made by golfers, and the money will be sent to Wounded Warriors Inc. to benefit the Fallen Heroes Foundation and local Lane County families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of military duty. The first annual Patriot Golf Day is a joint venture of the PGA of America and the United States Golf Association. Golf Lane County courses are some of several thousand golf facilities around the country that participate in this unique and meaningful fund raising event.
“Golf has always been a great sport for raising charity funds,” commented Diamond Woods owner Jeff Doyle, “and doing something that both supports and honors those who are wounded or lose their lives serving in the military gained our immediate support.” “ We are very proud that each one of our golfing customers will join our contribution on Sept. 1, in fact we had contributions from golfers playing on days before because they could not play on this day.” said Larry Giustina, owner of Tokatee Golf Club. “Golf Lane County looks forward to participating on Patriot Golf Day next year and every year thereafter.” Labels: golf, patriot golf day
Jeld-Wen Tradition releases list of players
The Champions Tour's three major winners have all committed to competing in the JELD-WEN Tradition, played at Crosswater Golf Club at Sunriver Resort, Aug. 13–19, 2007, announced the tournament director today. Denis Watson (Senior PGA Champion), Brad Bryant (US Senior Open Champion and currently number two on the Money List), and Tom Watson (Senior British Open Champion) will join the tournament's field of 79.
The list of committed players includes 29 of the current top-30 on the Champions Tour Money List including money leader Jay Haas and former JELD-WEN Tradition champions Tom Watson (2003), Craig Stadler (2004), Loren Roberts (2005) and Eduardo Romero (2006).
"It has been a highly competitive season and with a stellar roster of players committing to the JELD-WEN Tradition, fans can expect to see amazing golf from their favorite players," said Mike Lee, JELD-WEN Tradition tournament director.
Champions Tour newcomers Fred Funk and Mark O'Meara are both expected to make their JELD-WEN Tradition debut this year in addition to Scott Hoch, who has never played in the tournament.
"This will be the first chance many people have had to see these players in person," said Lee. "All three players have had first or second place finishes this year, including O'Meara's second place finish in last week's Senior Open Championship. They should all be major contenders at the JELD-WEN Tradition this year."
Oregon's own Peter Jacobsen and Bob Gilder have also committed to play. For a full list of committed players, visit www.jeld-wentradition.com/tournament_field.
"It is very gratifying to see top players continue to support the event in its first year at its new home," said Gina Monterossi, sports marketing manager for JELD-WEN.
Labels: golf
Best bag company gets more recognition
I'm working on my third Ogio golf bag and I love, they're the best. Below is proof that I must not be the only one who feels that way...
OGIO HONORED BY CLUBCORP, KSL RESORTS WITH PREFERRED VENDOR STATUS BLUFFDALE, Utah (July 25, 2007) - OGIO has been selected as a preferred vendor to two of the country's most prestigious club and resort owner/operators: Dallas-based ClubCorp and La Quinta's KSL Resorts. The announcement was made today by OGIO Executive Vice President Harlan Gardiner. With the selection, OGIO's signature golf bags and accessories will be distributed through more than 170 iconic facilities nationwide through the combined ClubCorp-KSL Resorts Golf Retail Program. Among the most recognized names on this prestigious list are Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio; The Homestead in Hot Springs; Rancho Mirage's Mission Hills Country Club; as well as the Hotel del Coronado and La Costa Resort and Spa. "Now we know how Greg Oden felt when he was named as the Trailblazer's first-round pick this year," Gardiner says. "This selection is a huge testament to OGIO's brand strength in the golf category. We're thrilled to be counted among ClubCorp and KSL's chosen vendors." OGIO's soon-to-be released 2008 stand and cart bag collection will be the first line distributed through the new retail program. In addition, OGIO's three award- winning travel bags, as well as its new shoe bag, head covers, golf duffel, and other accessories, will be available to guests at these world-class destinations. For more information about OGIO's golf and gear bag lineup, visit www.ogio.com.
Labels: golf
British Open: Live Scoring and Streaming Coverage
Don't have a television at your desk? Why not watch live coverage of The Open on the Internet? Right now, the best coverage available is on PGATour.com.
You can watch every swing on the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes and get the most recent updates on the full leaderboard. Labels: british open, golf
British Open: Player says steroids are in use
Gary Player said Wednesday he knows of at least one golfer who has used steroids, and he urged golf organizations to move quickly toward a random drug-testing plan. "We're dreaming if we think it's not going to come into golf," Player said. Player estimated 10 players from tours around the world were taking some type of performance-enhancing drug. Asked how he knew golfers were taking steroids, he said a player told him in confidence. "One guy told me -- and I took an oath prior to him telling me -- but he told me what he did and I could see this massive change in him," Player said. "And somebody else told me something I also promised I wouldn't tell, that verified others had done it." Last year, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the USGA used random testing for the first time at the World Amateur Team Championship in South Africa. All 12 tests came back negative. The LPGA Tour said it would start drug testing next year, while the European and PGA tours also are moving toward drug policies. PGA Tour Tim Finchem said in June that drug testing in sports has become a reality and golf organizations around the world should make sure they're on the same page. "It's unfortunate that these realities are with us, but they are," Finchem said then. "And we have to deal with them, and I think it's important that golf deal with them collectively."
R&A chief executive Peter Dawson supports testing, although he said the professional tours are better suited to develop drug policies. Asked about Player's accusation, Dawson referred to Tiger Woods' comments earlier in the week. Woods, who has come out in favor of drug testing, was asked Tuesday if he would be surprised if a golfer tested positive. "If anything, probably out here it would be testing positive for maybe being hung over a little bit," Woods said. "But that's about it. I know some guys have taken Medrol packs for inflammation in their wrists, but other than that, I really don't see anybody doing anything, or have heard anybody doing anything." Phil Mickelson also said he thought golfers were clean. "I don't think there's even a remote chance that will happen," he said of a golfer testing positive for steroids. Labels: golf
British Open: Sergio hoping for drier conditions
Sergio Garcia would love to see hard and fast conditions for The Open Championship rather than the holding fairways and greens that have been dictated by heavy rain. But the weather outlook for the rest of the week remains uncertain.
"I would love to see this course playing fast and firm like we played last year in Liverpool. But it doesn't look like it's going to be that way," he said as he prepared for his final practice round after a morning of further rain.
"If we don't get somne wind coming, the scores aregoing to be very low. It's going to be easy to get to the fairways. We're going to be able to stop it quite easily on the greens. It's just a matter of what the weather does. It looks like the most important club this week is probably going to be the umbrella. That's never good news."
Referring back to his first experience of Carnoustie in 1999, when he failed to qualifying with rounds of 89-83 to be 30 over par, he said: "It was a little bit out of hand. Also we had quite bad weather, quite difficult playing conditions so that didn't help the way the course was set up. But this year it's a different course.
"Even though the rough is not too bad this year you still lose a bit of control out of it. You still want to be hitting from the fairways as much as possible. Once you start getting to that guessing game, you know, how much is the ball going to release and everything, it's tougher to get going. And to get to some pins you have to be on the fairway. If they tuck them behind the bunkers you can't get to them from the rough."
He struggled with his form at the recent US Open, but feels his game is picking up in time for tomorrow's assault on the Championship. "It's just a matter of getting some good confidence, getting some good momentum on your side, just get going the right way." He considers himself a good wind player, but is no big fan of rain.
Only one shot behind Tiger Woods going into the final round last year at Hoylake, he dropped back into a tie for fifth place after a 73. "Mainly what happened on Sunday the way the tournament was going, I had almost no chance of winning. I put in an excellent round on Saturday (a 65) and gave myself a chance. It's very difficult in a major, and even more a British Open, to try to shoot 65, 66 to get into a play-off. I had a chance of trying to do something good and hopefully win.
"What happened was I didn't get off to a good start. I missed a couple of short putts early on and kind of put myself a little behind the eight-ball. When you get in that situation and things have to go your way. You get a couple of bad bounces and hit a couple of bunkers and it becomes quite difficult. I'm just going to do the same things, put myself in that position again and keep trying and do my best. That's all I can ask for myself and hopefully it's good enough." Labels: golf
British Open: A softer, gentler Carnoustie?
Tiger Woods hit putts with one hand and held his yardage book with the other, studying Carnoustie on Sunday as if he were seeing this links course for the first time in his life.
Considering what happened last time the British Open came here, it all looked so new.
Gone was the rough, so thick at its foundation that it was difficult to see the golf ball, much less hit it. The fairways were far more generous, nothing like Kapalua or a resort course, but certainly wider than the country lane that players faced in 1999.
Woods said it brought back memories of his first trip to Carnoustie -- not 1999 in the British Open, but 1995 and 1996, when he played the Scottish Open at Carnoustie for his first taste of links golf.
"It looks really nice, really fair," Woods said.
Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson, who regretted how players lambasted the setup in '99, was among those to greet Woods when he finished his practice round. The conversation was private, but Dawson appeared to be pleased by what he heard.
It can't be considered a major without complaints, and certainly there was griping on a sunny, lazy afternoon along the North Sea.
"A bit too easy," David Frost said.
Frost played in the second-to-last group in the final round eight years ago, despite opening with an 80. He wound up in a tie for seventh, finishing at 10-over 294. He was among the few who found no problem with the tight fairways and rough on steroids.
He took far greater issue with a course where he could see his ball off the fairway even as he stood on the tee.
"I think the fairways are very wide and there's no rough," Frost said. "So, it's a little bit of a total opposite to what it was in '99."
Most players would celebrate this change.
"No, it's too lenient," Frost said. "I just think it should have been tighter."
It's probably a good thing Jean Van de Velde isn't around this week to see Carnoustie or he might really be haunted by throwing away the British Open. With a mixture of bad decisions and bad luck, he took triple bogey on the final hole to fall into a three-man playoff that was won by Paul Lawrie.
It is difficult now to reconstruct the sad sequence that cost Van de Velde the claret jug.
His second shot caromed off the bleachers, back across Barry Burn and into rough so deep that the best he could do was chop it into the 6-foot wide burn. He took a drop in grass so mangled that he only managed to get it over the stream and into a bunker.
That would not have happened this week, because there's so such thing as mangled rough right of the 18th fairway, or hardly anywhere else at Carnoustie. In fact, the area in front of the burn is mown closely, not like the front of ponds at Augusta National, but close.
But it is noticeable only by those who were here in 1999.
Steve Stricker had the one of the 102 rounds in the 80s eight years ago, missing the cut. He played Sunday with Jerry Kelly, his pal from junior golf in Wisconsin, and was asked if Carnoustie looked familiar.
"Yeah, it does," he said. "Except for the rough and the width of the fairways."
He remembers narrow fairways that were 20 yards wide, and only a dozen paces between rough lines on some holes.
"The rough was very thick. You were having a hard time getting it to the green," Stricker said. "Now, the rough is not bad at all. You can actually aim at the rough on some of the holes."
But he wasn't calling it a pushover. Far from it.
Engaged in a friendly duel with Kelly, Stricker was down one playing the 18th, at 499 yards and into a slight breeze. He hit a good drive with a tiny draw that landed in the first cut, giving him a clean lie. From there, he had 237 yards to the hole and hit 3-wood that landed on the edge of out-of-bounds to the left of the green.
Even without tiny fairways and deep rough, the defense of Carnoustie and most links courses are bunkers and wind.
K.J. Choi, a two-time winner on the PGA TOUR this year, played Saturday and hit driver and wedge to the 18th. He played Sunday afternoon and hit a driver and a 5-wood to the green.
Choi's memories from 1999 include playing in the last round with Lawrie, whose brilliant 67 to make up a record 10-shot deficit was overlooked by Van de Velde's follies. And Choi remembers Carnoustie as being the toughest major he has ever played.
Not right now.
"You can hit the ball anywhere and find it," Choi said. "You can still see the ball."
Two-time U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen tied for 10th in 1999 at 11 over par, failing to break par any of the four rounds.
"Eleven over won't finish 10th this year," he said with a smile.
Goosen thrives on the toughest tests, but he fears the course setup at majors have gone too far, and have taken some of the fun out of the game for players and spectators alike. Carnoustie was entertaining for all the wrong reasons in 1999.
"You have nothing silly like last time," he said. "The R&A did a great job."
And it apparently did nothing to lessen the test of Carnoustie, long considered the toughest links course in the world. Younger players like Charles Howell III and Sean O'Hair were still teenagers in 1999, watching the fiasco on television.
Both were pleasantly surprised to see that the rough was not nearly as bad. But what got their attention was the 7,421 yards of course, the flapping flags in what the Scots might consider only a wee breeze, and bunkers everywhere they looked.
"I wasn't here in '99," Howell said. "I thought it was tough."
Labels: british open, golf
Tiger's caddie calling it quits?
Steve Williams has no intention of quitting his job as caddie to Tiger Woods, the New Zealand native said in a newspaper interview published Sunday.
Williams told New Zealand's Sunday Star-Times he didn't know why rumors were circulating he was about to end his lucrative eight-year partnership with Woods, the world's No. 1-ranked golfer.
"I need to get a few people off my back over this," Williams said. "I've been inundated with e-mails and text messages and requests for interviews but I haven't responded to anybody and this is the one and only statement I'll make on it.
"A rumor started last week that I was to retire at the end of the year and there's no truth to that rumor. If I was to retire, Tiger would be the first one to know."
Reports of a possible split between Woods and Williams surfaced earlier this month when Woods was said to have approached Billy Foster, caddie to Briton Darren Clarke, to gauge his future availability.Labels: golf
Tour Roundup - 07/16/07
PGA Tour - Byrd keeps Clark from the winner's circle
Jonathan Byrd didn't like the leaderboard on his way to the 14th hole, and things weren't looking much better for him when his tee shot sailed wide right. Then, his fortunes changed.
Read more here...
European Tour - Mickelson bogeys his way to second place
A faulty driver cost Lefty his first European Tour win, as France's Gregory Havret rallied to win the Scottish Open on the first playoff hole Sunday.
Read more here...
LPGA - Pak wins another Farr
Trailing briefly by three strokes after Morgan Pressel aced the sixth hole, Se Ri Pak regained the lead with a birdie at the 15th hole and held on to tie an LPGA record with her fifth win at the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic on Sunday.
Read more here...
Labels: golf
Van de Velde to skip Carnoustie
Jean van de Velde will miss the British Open's return to Carnoustie, where he squandered a three-shot lead on the last hole. The French player, who eventually lost a three-man playoff to Paul Lawrie at Carnoustie in 1999, has suffered from a virus for more than three months.
Because of his low ranking, van de Velde would need to play next week's Scottish Open at Loch Lomond and earn the only qualifying spot for the July 19-22 British Open. But his agent, Jamie Cunningham, said Friday that the golfer would instead have further medical tests.
"He knows what pulling out of the Scottish Open means and he is bitterly disappointed about it, but he does not think there is any point going there not feeling competitive," Cunningham said. "He does not feel 100 percent confident of playing four rounds, so reluctantly is withdrawing. Hopefully it won't be long before he's back."
Van de Velde has been feeling ill since the Portuguese Open in early April.Labels: british open, golf
Florida golfer survives gator attack
A man who lost his ball in a golf course pond nearly lost a limb when a nearly 11-foot alligator latched on to his arm and pulled him in the water, authorities said. Bruce Burger, 50, was trying to retrieve his ball Monday from a pond on the sixth hole at the Lake Venice Golf Club. The alligator latched on to Burger's right forearm and pulled him in the pond, said Gary Morse, a spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Burger used his left arm to beat the reptile until it freed him. "I saw him reach down to get his ball and he yelled" for help, said Janet Pallo, who was playing the fifth hole and ran over to drive the man to the clubhouse. Burger, from Lenoir City, Tenn., was taken to a hospital but was not seriously injured, Morse said Tuesday. It took seven Fish and Wildlife officers an hour to trap the one-eyed alligator, which measured 10 feet, 11 inches, Morse said. The pond at the sixth hole has a "Beware of Alligator" sign. "Unfortunately, that's part of Florida," course general manager Rod Parry said. "There's wildlife in these ponds." Labels: golf
Tour Roundup
PGA Tour - Mahan gets his first TOUR win
It looks like another sign that American golf has a pretty good future. Another of the under-30 crowd notched a win this week. Hunter Mahan rallied after back-to-back bogies and was able to beat Jay Williamson in a playoff at The Travelers.
Read about it here...
LPGA Tour - Ochoa wins in a playoff
It was bound to happen sometime. Lorena Ochoa finally got into a playoff and came out on top. It was the first time in five tries the world's number one player was able to win in a playoff, a likely stepping stone for more victories in the future.
Read about it here...
Champion's Tour - Haas just keeps on rollin'
This win was a team effort, with Haas playing some great golf and Tom Purtzer collapsing in the final round. It was a second consecutive win for Haas, who now has four on the year.
Read about it here...
Labels: Champions Tour, golf, LPGA, PGA Tour
More than just a Buick man
Tiger Woods will no longer be the primary pitchman for Buick because General Motors wants a broader role for the golf great, the automaker's top sales executive said. Mark LaNeve, GM's vice president of North American sales, service and marketing, said GM will use Woods in corporate level marketing and in particular, with its OnStar marketing campaign. "Tiger's a great asset," LaNeve said. "We can use him in lots of ways. Why shouldn't we use him in ways other than Buick?" LaNeve said the product strategy of how to best use Woods is to sell cars based on their own attributes, not on their ties to a particular celebrity. "We don't want a celebrity at the core of any brand. We want the message on Buick to be about Buick," he said. Woods has had a sponsorship agreement with Buick since 1999 and agreed to a new deal in 2004 believed to be worth more than $40 million over five years. Buick has said the contract does not require Woods to play in specific PGA Tour events it sponsors but organizers are optimistic he will play in this year's Buick Open starting Thursday at Warwick Hills in Grand Blanc. Woods' schedule is uncertain now that he's a first-time father. His daughter, Sam Alexis Woods, was born on Monday. Labels: golf, tiger woods
Drug testing a reality in golf?
It certainly looks like professional golfers will, in the near future, be tested for performance enhancing drugs. I won't lie, I actually never thought we'd see it happen, but PGA Commissioner Tim Finchem has done a 180 degree turnaround and is now pushing for a global standard for testing in golf.
In a press conference Wednesday, Finchem said the PGA, USGA and RNA need to create a single testing standard and begin using it for professional events. "In Europe, in particular, and in certain other areas of the world, the idea of testing in athletics is just a reality, because it's government-required," he said.
I think it's foolish to believe that there aren't professional golfers using performance enhancing drugs. I think it's a small percentage and, as JJ Henry said when asked about the issue today, believe the testing will have very little impact on the game.
"A lot of people have talked about that integrity and honesty of golf is what makes it so special," Henry said. "I'd like to think there's none of that going on out here, to be honest with you."
The testing, I think, is necessary only because every other sport has moved to monitor its athletes and protect the integrity that fans have come to demand.
Labels: drug testing, golf
Baby Woods arrives
Tiger Woods is a daddy.
Less than 24 hours after Woods finished second at the U.S. Open on Father's Day, his wife gave birth to a daughter. Woods announced on his Web site -- www.tigerwoods.com -- that Sam Alexis Woods was born early Monday morning.
"Both Elin and Sam are doing well and resting peacefully," Woods wrote. "We want to thank our doctors and the hospital staff for all their dedicated and hard work. This is truly a special time in our lives and we look forward to introducing Sam to our family and friends over the next few weeks. We thank everyone for their well wishes and continued respect of our privacy."
Woods finished a shot behind Angel Cabrera on Sunday to finish second in a major for the second time this year.
Phil Mickelson's first child was also born the day after he finished second in the U.S. Open in 1999.Labels: golf, tiger woods, US Open
Some things never change
For the PGA Tour, things didn't change much at all over the past weekend. Tiger Woods cruised to another victory (his 52nd since turning pro) at the Wachovia. With an eagle-birdie-birdie run in the middle of the round, he sure did make things look easy.
I felt that Saturday was really the day to watch. With Tiger and Vijay Singh paired together, there was some really great golf being played. From Singh's on-the-fly eagle to Tiger hitting three wood about a quater-mile, there were plenty of great shots to watch.
Sunday felt like a little of a let-down as several of those on the top of the leaderboard fell away.
On the Champions Tour, newcomer Scott Hoch notched his first win. That adds to the 11 wins he had during his time on the PGA Tour.
All in all, it was guys who know how to win, getting it done again.
Labels: Champions Tour, golf, PGA Tour
PGA Tour goes low
Watching Thursday's round at Harbour Town, I couldn't help but think how happy all those guys must have been to be out of Augusta. Just about everyone was putting up a good number on a course that wasn't playing nearly as tough as the one they were on a week ago.
It's hard to say which is better for the game. Would fans rather see golfers tear up a golf course and go as low as they can or would they prefer to see the world's best grind on a difficult course and struggle to stay near even par? It's hard to say.
Personally, I like seeing the guys fight the course. I think a difficult course truly brings the best players to the top because they have to think their way around the course and decide on a course of action.
Let me know what you think. It's likely that we're in for another battle when the US Open comes along because Oakmont will be set up tough once again.Labels: golf, PGA Tour
Annika out for a month
I know we usually cover more PGA Tour news here in the Travel Blog, but word is that Annika Sorenstam will miss the next month because of back pain. What will that mean for the most dominate female golfer of the last decade?
Likely, a drop in the rankings.
With several women already gaining ground on her (Sorenstam has already dropped to second in the world rankings), it seems likely that she could slip even more. Lorena Ochoa, Morgan Pressel and Karrie Webb are all playing well and will move up with solid performance this week.
Sorenstam withdrew from the Ginn Open following her pro-am round. Doctors in south Florida discovered a ruptured disk and a bulging disk. She said she would see a neurosurgeon in Miami later Thursday to figure out what to do next.Labels: annika sorenstam, golf
The Masters: Congrats Zach Johnson
As everyone knows by now, Zach Johnson got his first major victory by holding off a late charge from Tiger Woods and Justin Rose to win the 2007 Masters. Congratulations to him!
My only comment from the tournament is how disappointed I was in the broadcast team as they made excuses for Tiger Woods. Coming down the stretch, the praised him and called his eagle on 13 a 'shot in the arm'. But two holes later, after his ball bounded into the water, one said Tiger must be sick because he's not playing well today.
Make no mistake, Woods is the best golfer on the planet, but he's never come from behind to win a major and I'm not sure why anyone expected that to change Sunday. There were plenty of skilled golfers at the top of the leaderboard as the tournament wound down, but only one of them was able to play mistake-free as needed.
After this close loss, Tiger will probably come back with a vengeance and win the US Open, but let's not make excuses for him if he doesn't. Golf is a tough game and sometimes you've got it, sometimes you don't. We're just used to seeing the world's top player on more often than not.
Labels: golf, the masters
The Masters: Palmer still involved and in color
Arnold Palmer said Tuesday that he'll be the tournament's seventh honorary starter. The four-time Masters champ, who last played three years ago, will hit the opening tee shot Thursday.
"The time has come," Palmer said Tuesday. "I think all of you know what Augusta means to me."
Palmer was the dominant player of the 1960s, winning seven major championships.
In other news, CBS announced that they had colorized the film from the 1960 Masters Tournament and will show it an hour before their coverage begins on Sunday afternoon. The film has never been shown on television before, only highlights from it.
Labels: golf, the masters
Golf for Computers
Bilquist Elementary School in Milwaukie is planning its second annual PTA golf scramble. All proceeds will help fund a new mobile computer lab for the school. The event will take place Saturday, April 21 at the Eagle Landing Family Gold Center, located at 10220 SE Causey Avenue in Happy Valley.
Participants will have their choice of an 18 hole golf game for $26 or 18 holes of putt-putt golf for $19. Lunch is included for all participants and prizes will be awarded for the best overall score.
Participants, sponsors and door-prize donors are urged to contact event organizer Christine Jeibmann at 503-721-2463.Labels: fundraisers, golf
The Masters: Practice Rounds and Preparation
Here's a quick rundown of the things we've been hearing from the hallowed grounds of Augusta National as players prepare for this year's Masters.
- Defending Champion Phil Mickelson got himself all revved up after making a hole-in-one on the par three 16th during a practice round Sunday. He chose to skip the popular day of practice on Monday and is back out on the course today.
- Gary Player is set to make his 50th start in The Masters, a number that will tie Arnold Palmer. Player got his practice round in on Sunday as well.
- Augusta National Chairman Bill Payne said there would be a few subtle changes to the course this year, including a wider fairway on the 11th and three fewer trees.
- The professionals and their kids will be out Wednesday for the annual Par Three Contest.
- Tuesday night marks the annual Champions Dinner.
Don't forget to visit KXL.com and enter for your chance to win a Nike CPR Rescue Wood!
Labels: golf, the masters
Masters Week gets underway
In just three days, the world's best golfers will tee it up at Augusta National. With that in mind, we'll have little Masters tidbits all week long.
First, NewsRadio 750 KXL is featuring complete tournament coverage at KXL.com. That includes pictures, links, trivia and an interactive course guide. You can also take your shot at picking the winner of the Masters and end up winning a Nike CPR Rescue Wood.
Champion's Dinner: Defending Champion Phil Mickelson has decided to have a Southern feast for this years dinner. The annual meal, held on Tuesday night, will include southern fried chicken, baby back ribs, beef brisket and smoked sausage. If that's not enough, vanilla ice cream will be served for dessert.
After winning the 2004 Masters for his first major, Mickelson served lobster ravioli in a tomato cream sauce, Caesar's salad and garlic bread at the champions dinner.
Along with choosing the menu, the defending champion also picks up the tab.
Labels: dinner, golf, |
